Maharashtra State health department has recently issued a notice for compliance to Essential Services Maintenance Act (ESMA) to the protesting state government pharmacists agitated by the different and discriminatory pay scales currently availed by the state and central government employees. As per the notice, the pharmacists have been directed to discontinue with their indefinite strike which began on June 1, 2014.

Responding to the notice served, the agitating pharmacists attached with the Maharashtra Rajya Zila Parishad Aushadh Nirmata Sanghthana and Gatak Karmachari Aushadh Nirmata Sanghthana have currently called off their protest on humanitarian grounds till July 10 in anticipation of a favourable response from the state government. A letter requesting government's response on the matter has been sent to the state health department by the pharmacists recently.

The pharmacists had called an indefinite strike on June 1, 2014 to press their long pending demand of last five years for upgrading their salary structure in accordance with the central government's sixth pay commission. They are now awaiting a favourable response from the government on the festering demands failing which they would revive the protest and stop providing their services to the patients.

Explains Satish Dhotre, president, Maharashtra Rajya Zila Parishad Aushadh Nirmata Sanghthana, "The state government pharmacists put in long hours beyond the eight hour duty time at state run health institutions in district and rural areas are yet not paid on par with what is being availed by the central government pharmacists. We want our current pay scale of Rs.5,200 (Basic Pay) Rs.2,800 (Grade Pay) to be upgraded to the central government's pay scale of Rs.9,300 (Basic Pay) – Rs.4,200 (Grade Pay)."

Demands also include provisions for promotional avenues which needs revision as pharmacists retire on the same grade after serving for 20 to 25 years and even more. Besides this, their is a demand for appointment of around 3000 more state government pharmacists for dispensing of medicines at 34 district hospitals, 350 rural hospitals and around 1809 Primary Health Centres (PHCs).

Says Arun Thengre, president, Gatak Karmachari Aushadh Nirmata Sanghthana, "There is also a need for appointment of two Pharmacy Officers for each 30 bed rural hospital in the state for effective enforcement of Section 42 of the Pharmacy Act, 1948. The government should also introduce a Bridge Course in Pharmacy for upgrading the knowledge of pharmacy officers and regularise those who have been recruited on contractual basis under the National Rural Health Mission (NRHM) besides revising their salary as per the demands submitted to the state government."